Sam Carroll and the rest of the team will be with you today from 7am to ensure constant coverage of all things EFC, including news, great photos, nostalgia, live interviews and much, much more.

The ECHO will also provide you with the very latest transfer news as it happens throughout the week, with every rumour and story digested and analysed each day with updates from full-time EFC reporter Phil Kirkbride, as well as Head of Sport David Prentice and more.

There will be all the latest team news before games, plus every one of Sam Allardyce's press conferences covered live and with video.

We want you to get involved too - tell us your thoughts on what's happening at Goodison by tweeting @LivEchoEFC or @SamCarroll0. Join the debate!

Key Events

Building the Brands

Adam Jones has written a piece on all you need to know on Marcel Brands - the PSV Sporting Director who Everton have been initial contact with as Director of Football Steve Walsh’s position is believed to be under threat.

Wenger on Wilshere following Blues links

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been linked with a move to Everton. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been speaking on the midfielder’s future.

16:18

Blues told to play Vlasic more

By none other that Nikola’s old man himself.

Josko Vlasic, an athletics coach and former decathlete, declared:

“It’s not my place to talk about a new coach, to talk about the expertise or actions of a new coach. I would explain it differently.

“Everton is a club that has to live from young players… Everton cannot buy a £100m player, and it’s not likely anyone worth a hundred million would come to a club such as Everton who does not fight for trophies, is it?”

Blues braced for Elstone departure

ECHO Head of Sport David Prentice writes that it looks increasingly likely that Everton chief executive Robert Elstone will return to his first sporting passion and take up a new role in charge of Rugby League’s Super League.

GIven the on-the-field turmoil at the Blues in recent months and the plans to move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, his exit would come at a delicate time for the club.

Silva Update

We reported yesterday that Benfica are interested in appointing Marco Silva as their next manager - but his agent Carlos Goncalves has told Portuguese media Silva has no desire to return to his native country at this time in his career.

There is no truth in this story, he does not plan to work in Portugal in the near future.

I think that’s called a come-and-get-me plea, isn’t it?

Is Silva holding out for a move to Goodison? (Image: Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

14:33Sam Carroll

How Should Blues Replace Gylfi?

Ah, Adam Jones.

The youngster - who goes by the alibi of Adama - has failed to make a cup of tea for the office today.

But, on the bright side, he’s a fine journalist, and he’s came up with this fantastic piece ruminating who should replace Gylfi Sigurdsson in Everton’s midfield.Rooney? Vlasic? DCL? Klaassen? Have a look at Adam’s argument and make your choice!

It’s that good a read, I think I’ve forgiven him already.

14:01Sam Carroll

Not a Bad Record

Everton are supposedly eyeing PSV’s Marcel Brands - who covers roughly the same role Steve Walsh does for the Blues - and his transfer record is very impressive.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a few of these in Blue - would you?

13:45Sam Carroll

Bally Comparison

One Evertonian reckons Tom Davies reminds him of Alan Ball!

I was, unfortunately, too young to remember Ball turning out at Goodison in his white boots but can definitely see Tom’s Evertonian spirit coming through as he bids to cement a recurring role in Sam Allardyce’s side.

He really is a quality midfielder, Tom, and I’m sure he’ll blossom into one of Everton’s key players in the coming years.

If he could inspire the Blues to silverware, he could even set himself on the path to eclipsing Ball as a true Everton great....

Everton fans display a banner for Alan Ball.

13:08KEY EVENT

Wenger on Wilshere Rumours

Arsene Wenger was asked about rumours linking Jack Wilshere with a summer move away from the Emirates in his press conference this afternoon.

It’s been touted today that Farhad Moshiri is willing to tempt the England midfielder with a hefty pay-packet, but Wenger reckons nothing has changed.

On my side nothing has changed. Jack will be free at the end of the season.

We make a proposal to him, I want him to stay and be linked with the club in the future. That is my desire and I hope he will do it.

I’m not a gambling man, but I reckon he’ll end up leaving.

Surely he knows he has to move on to fully rejuvenate his career?The only thing that could keep him at Arsenal - somewhat ironically for Wenger who gave him his breakthrough - is if the club can lure a new, elite manager to replace the Frenchman.

Staying? Going?

12:59Sam Carroll

Stoke's Biggest Game

Everton love to time things nicely.

Just as he’s hitting a nice bit of form at Goodison, Gylfi Sigurdsson gets injured, and now the Blues are facing Stoke this weekend in what has been labelled as their biggest game since returning to the Premier League by Stoke Sentinel writer Martin Smith.

However, that game is out of the way and now we’re left with the far more important matter of the Everton match on Saturday.

It is no understatement whatsoever to say that this is a ‘cup final’ for us and, without resorting to melodrama, the biggest game we’ve faced since we were promoted to the Premier League.

We are now on a run of only one win in our last 10 Premier League games and that has to end.

Ah, another streak that has to end!Like Harry Kane and Josh King’s goalless streaks at Goodison, or Burnley’s failure to turnaround a 1-0 deficit, Stoke will at least find comfort in the fact that the Blues have a habit of giving struggling sides - and players - a helping hand.

Gylfi Reaction

Everton’s official club account broke the news of Gylfi Sigurdsson earlier this afternoon - the full story is below - and Everton fans have reacted to the announcement in their droves.

Here’s what you’ve made of Gylfi’s season-ending injury....

Step up Davy....

Emotional....

Back stronger....

Rooney in the 10?

And some strong gifs!

12:03KEY EVENT

Siggy to Miss Rest of Season

Breaking news this afternoon coming from Goodison Park.

Sadly, it’s not good news.Gylfi Sigurdsson is set to miss the rest of the season - right as he was just starting to hit a really good patch of form.

Classic Everton timing really, isn’t it?

Adam Jones has more below.

11:32Sam Carroll

Sam Praises Tom

Sam Allardyce has praised Tom Davies for his performance against Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

Davies, according to the Everton website, had the best pass-completion rate of any player on the field - over 90% - and the young midfielder has been backed by Allardyce to kick-on in the second-half of the season.

He was very good [against Brighton]. In two seasons he has had a massive learning curve for one so young.

[He was part of] the brilliant season Everton had last season, particularly here at Goodison, and received many accolades.

And now he has experienced more of a struggle [as a team]. And the experience should hold him in good stead to become a bigger and better-quality player than he already is.

Davies really has impressed in recent weeks, hasn’t he?With the injury to Gylfi Sigurdsson looking likely to keep the Icelandic international out until the end of the season, Davies could well be tasked with filling the creative void left by his colleague in the coming weeks.

Davies impressed again on Saturday.

10:41Sam Carroll

Former Blue in Advanced Talks

Mark Hughes is in advanced talks to become Southampton boss according to Sky Sports News.

It really is becoming a managerial merry-go-round, isn’t it?

09:57Sam Carroll

Everton Should Move On

I think a lot of Blues will agree with this from our former Everton reporter Greg O’Keeffe, won’t they?

Greg - who, in a completely unrelated tangent, plays like Nuno Valente when setting aside his BBC pencils and turning out for the ECHO XI - reckons Jones has struggled to feature week-in-week-out at United and, while admitting to still being a Jags fan, concedes the skipper’s powers are waning.

For me, this just reeks of a central-defensive Schneiderlin situation.

While at the time the acquisition of Morgan seemed like a brilliant coup for the club, his performances this season have shown why United were so keen to offload - and why he wasn’t making the first eleven at Old Trafford.

Everton’s scouting department must improve rapidly if we’re to begin challenging the top six and acquiring players such as Davinson Sanchez and Eric Bailly before the big clubs set their money-laden eyes upon them.

A boy can dream, I suppose....

09:23Sam Carroll

Besic Talk

Tony Pulis is plotting a summer raid to make Mo Besic’s loan move permanent at the Riverside, according to the Northern Echo.

Boro have lost just one of the six games Besic has featured in since his arrival, and it also seems like, apart from becoming a fan’s favourite, the Bosnian is still up to his usual Mo tricks.

After Saturday’s 3-1 home victory over Barnsley - in which the Everton loan star played an hour before being taken off to rest a sore hamstring - Pulis commented on the moment Besic dribbled the ball through his six-yard box before clearing.

He’s cool and calm, too many touches at times, but he’s a good player and a great kid.

He’d had problems with his hamstring in the last couple of days before the game and felt sore after last week’s game at Birmingham. If he said he wanted to rest we’d rest him.

He didn’t train but he said he was ready to go and he wanted to play it’s a great attitude.

The article reckons Sam Allardyce was willing to sell Mo permanently in January - but could his good performances change the boss’ mind?

Mo Besic loves: tattoos, bookings and dribbling in his six-yard box.

08:51KEY EVENT

Vlasic's Dad Speaks Out

This has been doing the rounds a little on social media, so if you haven’t seen it, here it is!

Croatian sports outlet Dnevno got in touch with Nikola Vlasic’s father this week, who spoke out against the treatment of his son by the club.

Josko Vlasic refused to specifically criticise Sam Allardyce with his son’s playing time dramatically decreasing since his arrival at Goodison Park, but he did ask why the Croatian winger wasn’t “the prospect of the club.”

“It’s not my place to talk about a new coach, to talk about the expertise or actions of a new coach. I would explain it differently,” he explained.

“Everton is a club that has to live from young players....Everton cannot buy a £100m player, and it’s not likely anyone worth a hundred million would come to a club such as Everton who does not fight for trophies, is it?

Therefore, Everton has to live from young footballers, foreign or English, that is all the same. And there’s a problem with Nikola, who started great and was then sent off to the side. To understand, Nikola is progressing day by day, where he is today is better than he was a year ago or a few months ago. He should be the prospect of the club, not some older players.

He reckons Nikola isn’t fazed by the situation, though. When asked if his son has became unhappy with his position at Everton, Josko replied:

“Not at all. He works like never before. He knows where he came, he knows how in England he’s expected to be better than three others to find a place. And he will find it.

“In England, such situations like Nikola is experiencing are normal and sooner or later they are all right, everything comes to through, because quality always comes out. Always.”

He's went off the radar a little - but his dad has backed him to shine.

08:27Sam Carroll

On This Day

On this day in 2002, The People’s Club was born!

David Moyes was appointed manager of Everton Football Club and said the following words:

I am from a city (Glasgow) that is not unlike Liverpool. I am joining the people’s football club. The majority of people you meet on the street are Everton fans.

“It is a fantastic opportunity, something you dream about. I said ‘yes’ right away as it is such a big club.

I have great faith in what can be achieved here. I’m under no illusions. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a big job. It’s been a big job for all the previous managers here.”

David went on to manage 518 games for the Blues, winning 218 of those in his eleven-year tenure before going on to manage Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham.

While everything he touched at Goodison seemingly turned to gold - except you, Per Kroldrup - it really hasn’t worked out for him since leaving Goodison Park, has it?

But, despite everything that happened after he departed - the Baines and Fellaini transfer offers didn’t do any favours for him - he really did make Everton into what they are today.

From relegation contenders to European hopefuls, I reckon most Blues will always be appreciative of the work Moyes did for the club after a period of real struggle.

What was your best Moyes moment?

There’s a lot, isn’t there?Finishing fourth on that hot, steamy day against Newcastle, the Ferguson header against United, Andy Johnson against Arsenal - oh, and the 3-0 against Liverpool at Goodison Park!

So many memories. Thanks, David. It was a pretty good ride.

He's got red hair....

08:00Sam Carroll

Rooney's Penalty Woes

Martin is asked whether a player has ever missed three penalties in a single season before - a feat which Wayne dubiously had the honour of achieving last weekend - and the experienced commentator replied:

He’s by no means the first Premier League player to have failed with three penalties in a season; seven others have achieved that unfortunate feat.

Alan Shearer (2003/04), Darren Bent (2009/10) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (2003/04) all failed to convert three in a season, but managed to score on other occasions that term - just as Rooney has this season at Brighton, at Liverpool and at home to Swansea.

However, there are three unfortunate men who have not scored all three penalties they have taken in a given Premier League season.

They are Mike Newell for Blackburn in 1992/93, Juan Pablo Angel for Aston Villa in 2004/05, and Teddy Sheringham TWICE, for Spurs in 1994/95 and Man Utd in 1997/98.

If Rooney fails from the spot again in the remaining handful of Premier League games, he will break a record. No player has missed four in a Premier League season. However, Sam Allardyce said after Saturday’s game that Rooney is off penalties now!

So there you have it.

If Everton are awarded another penalty this season, and the ball falls into the crowd, please aim your throw towards Leighton Baines or Cenk Tosun.

The current boss will only make a move for the Manchester United man if he’s still in charge at Goodison Park next year - something which remains to be seen as Everton limp towards the end of the season.

Allardyce gave Jones his debut at Blackburn almost a decade ago - with the player retaining an admiration for Sam - and it’s thought that the former Blackburn and West Ham manager wants to build a new-look defence around Jones.

What do you think about this one Blues?Last time a move for Jones was mooted it didn’t go down too well....

Could he join Sam Allardyce at Goodison next season? (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

07:21Sam Carroll

Morning Blues!

Salutations!

The weather is finally beginning to change! After using eight husky dogs and two cheerful Eskimo drivers to get to work last week, it was a lovely treat to walk to Echo HQ in my shorts, flip-flops and comically oversized sunglasses this morning.

We’ve got lots in store for you Blues today, with your usual transfer tittle-tattle - Phil Jones, anyone? - as well as all the breaking news from Goodison Park and our crack team of Blue writers.

They’re not actually blue in colour, disappointingly. I wonder what the Smurfs’ views on Steve Walsh’s transfer policy is though.

That’s a pretty good place to leave it, isn’t it?If you have the answer to that question - or any views on the Blues - please get in touch @SamCarroll0 and @LivEchoEFC!

In the meantime though, settle yourself in and enjoy - I’ll take it from here!